Apparatus for saving radiator alcohol



March 7, 1933. A. w, MURPHY APPARATUS FOR SAVING RADIATOR ALCOHOL Filed May 18, 1931 UU LAL) LiL/l Vir/veas [/r i l @WW- Patented Mar. 7, 1933 ANDREW WILLIAM MURPHY, F NORWICH, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR SAVING RADIATOR ALCOHOL Application filed May 18, 1931.

This invention relates to an apparatus for reclaiming the vapors of anti-freezing mixtures such as alcohol and water or their equivalent commonly used in the cooling systems of internal combustion engines and other heat-developing elements. Y

In cooling systems of this character the mixture is usually circulated through a jacket surrounding the heat generating elem ment and thence through a cooling unit commonly known as a radiator having an overflow for excess liquid and vapor to prevent injury to the cooling system through excess expansion of the liquid under heat.

It is well-known that alcohol and similar anti-freezing agents commonly mixed with water in the cooling'systems rapidly evaporate from the water throughY the overflow; outlet, particularly under the increasing temperatures of the engine when in action, thus necessitating more or less frequent replenishing of the system with alcohol .in order to maintain a safe anti-freezing mixture.

Aside from the monetary loss sustained by the escape of this alcoholic vapor to the atmosphere there is also alwayspresent the danger of lowering the alcoholic content inV the mixture to such a degree as to permit freezing of the residue under varying degrees of freezing temperature.

The main object, therefore, of the present invention is to. restore the alcoholic vapor to the cooling system immediately upon its liberation or escape through the overflow and thereby to render the useV of this freezing mixture more economical and dependable under freezing temperatures.

Another object is to permit the mixture to be drawn off from the circulating chamber andplaced in hermetically sealed receptacles for reuse at any time desired whether during the same or the succeeding season.

Other objects and uses relating to the detail construction of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

VIn the drawing Y Figure 1 is an internal combustion en- V gine and radiator forming a part of the Serial No. 538,364.

cooling system and my improvedV appara# tus used in connection therewith. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, partly broken away, of the Vessential parts ofthe vapor-reclaiming apparatus as connected to and between the overflow of the radiator and return flow conduit of the mixture circulating system.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have shown portions of an internal combustion engine A havingv the usual jacket for receiving a liquid-cooling agent or mixture such as water and alcohol in proper proportions to form an antifreezing mixture under varying freezing temperatures, said jacket being connected by up flow and return conduits aand -bto a radiator -B- of any well known construction.

Any suitable means may be provided for circulating the cooling agent from the jacket to the radiator and return, but as illustrated the return conduit -bis connected to an engine-driven pump 0- which not only draws the cooled mixture Vfrom the bottom of the radiator through the conduit b but also forces the cooling agent through the jacket and materially aids inl the up flow of the heated mixture through the pipe -ato the radiatorto obtain a more'rapid circulation Vof the cooling mixture through the jacket.

The radiator B` is provided with the usual relatively small overflow pipe -dleading downwardly from the top of the radiator near the inlet thereof to the atmosphere to permit the overow of excess liquid andy vapor, and thereby to serve as a relief vent for said radiator to prevent injury thereto by excess internal pressure of the heated fluid or vapor.

The device forming the subject matter ofV the present application preferably comprises a casting I having a cooling chamber 2 connected at one end by a pipe or conduit 3 to the overflow conduit -d-, the other end of the chamber 2 being connected by a pipe or conduit 4 to the return conduit rbbof the mixture-circulating system. o

The conduit eZ- includes Vtherein a valve case 5 containing a two-way valve 6 which, when adjusted to one position, as shown in Figure 2, cuts off the direct passage of the overflow through the conduit -cZ- to the atmosphere and directs the overflow through the conduit 3 and into the chamber 2 from which it is free to pass through the conduit 4 and into the return pipe -bof the cooling system. It will be noted that the pipe -clbelow the valve case -5- and the pipe -3- form two branches of the main overflow pipe and that the cooling chamber -2- and pipe 4 form continuations of the branch pipe -3- for connection with the return flow conduit -b.

The valve is preferably adjusted to this position when an anti-freezing agent such as alcohol is used in the cooling mixture for preventing the escape of the mixture or its vapor hrough the overflow to the atmosphere and causing said mixture to be restored to the circulating system through the chamber 2 and conduit 4.

On the other hand, when no anti-freezing agent is required in the cooling system, the valve G may be adjusted to cut olf communication between the overflow -dand conduit 3 and to allow the direct passage of vapor and excess liquid from the top of the radiator through the overflow and to the amosphere in the usual manner.

The delivery conduit 4 is shown as connected directly to the return flow conduit -bof the cooling system but obviously may be connected to any other part of said system capable of returning the vapor of the anti-freezing agent to said system immediately following its escape into the overflow dof the radiator.

The conduit 4 is provided with la check valve 7 arranged to prevent the backflow of the cooling mixture from the lconduit -binto the chamber 2 while permitting free flow of the vapor or condensation through said conduit to the pipe b-.

In fact, the suction produced in the conduit -bby the pump -chas a similar but less suction for the pipe 4 to assist in drawing the collected vapor from the chamber 2 into the cooling system.

The chamber 2 is provided with an air vent 8 controlled by a Valve 9 which is yieldingly held in vits closed position by a coil spring 10, but is adapted to be opened against the action of the spring in case the vacuous condition in the chamber 2 should become excessive as a result of the action of the pump -c-, thereby preventing excessive suction in the pipe 3 and overflow -dof the radiator.

The chamber 2 is provided with a branch outlet 11 which is adapted to discharge to atmosphere through a conduit 12 but is controlled by a valve 13 which is yieldingly held in its closed position by a spring 14, Figure 2.

rl`his valve 13 is adapted to be opened by excess liquid or vapor pressure within the chamber 2 due to overheating of the liquid or vapor in the radiator to which it is connected, under which conditions the vapor or liquid under excess pressure would escape to the atmosphere through the outlets 11 and 12. As previously explained, the cooling chamber -2- and pipe -4- forni continuations of the branch pipe -3- of the main overflow pipe -cZ- and as such, this branch is provided with pressure relief passages -11- and -12- and controlling valve therefor and is also provided with the vacuum relief passage -8- and controlling valve -9-.

Operation ly evaporating liquid, communication of the overflow conduit bn with the atmospherewill be cut off by proper adjustment of the valve 6 so that when the engine is running and developing heat, thereby heating the cooling liquid, the latter will be caused to circulate from the water jacket of the engine to the radiator and return from the radiator to the jacket through the pipes -aand --Z)-, thereby establishing what may be termed a closed circulating system.

As the anti-freezing mixture evaporates or overflows into the pipe -Z, it will be conducted through the pipe 3 into the chamber 2 and thence through the pipe 4 into the suction side of the pump -o-, thereby effecting a continuous return and reuse of the evaporated mixture without appreciable loss of the alcohol content.

Whenever desired, as for example when freezing weather ceases, the entire cooling mixture may be withdrawn from the circulating system and preserved in hermetically sealed receptacles for future use.

The circulating system may then be refilled with water or similar comparatively inexpensive liquid for engine-cooling purposes, at which time the valve 6 in the overflow pipe -dwill be adjusted to close communication with the chamber 2 and open communication with the atmosphere.

In case the degree of vacuum within the chamber 2 should be excessive it will immediately cause the valve 9 to open to admit atmospheric air and thereby to break the excessive vacuum. On the other hand, if the pressure from the radiator in the overflow pipe should be excessive the valve 13 would be opened against the action of its spring 14`to allow the excess pressure to vent itself to the atmosphere through the pipe 12.

The device shown, particularly in Figure 2, may be made and sold at a comparatively low cost and easily and quickly installed upon the engine or its supporting frame without material alterations of any of the' usual parts other than the mere connections of the pipes 3 andl 4 to 4the overflow pipe -eoZ-' and suction side -bof the circulat= ing system, but it is evident that the struc`- tural details and manner of connecting the device to the circulating system may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination with the cooling system of an internal combustion engine including the usual water jacket and radiator and the upflow and return pipes connecting the jacket and radiator, of an overlow pipe leading from the interior of the upper portion of the radiator and provided'` with two branches, one of said branches being open to the atmosphere, the other branch being connected to one of the first named pipes, and means for diverting the overflow to either of said branches and for cutting oil' the passage of the overflow to the other branch.

2. A cooling system for internal combustion engines as in claim 1 in which one of the branch overflow pipes is provided with a pressure-relief passage opening to the atmosphere, and a self-closing valve controlling said passage and adapted to be opened by excess pressure in said branch pipe.

3. A cooling system for internal combustion engines as in claim 1 in which one of the branch overflow pipes is provided with a vacuum relief passage opening to the at- Inosphere, and a self-closing valve controlling said passage and adapted to be opened by excess vacuum in said branch pipe.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May, 1931.

ANDREW WILLIAM MURPHY. 

